Mel Naattu
From Devaki (1951) · 1951
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Jikki
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Devaki (1951)1951
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mel naattu ilaingar | Youths of Western nations |
| Vimaanam kandaar | Invented airplanes |
| Mottar kandaar | Invented motor cars |
| Rayilai kandaar | Invented trains |
| Female | |
| Ingirukum naamellaam | All of us living here |
| Idlyum chutniyum | Except for Idli and Chutney |
| Special dosaiyum thavira | And Special Dosa |
| Verenna kandom | What else have we invented or achieved? |
| Indru aaravunsu ration vanthu adharkkum | Today, even with a six-ounce food ration system |
| Thindaadugirom thindaadugirom… | We are struggling, we are struggling... |
| Female | |
| Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae | We wither in hunger in this wretched world |
| Velai kedaikkallae aanaal | We do not get jobs, but |
| Pengalai kandaal | When we see women |
| Joraa vaayaadurom | We talk boastfully and flirt aloud |
| Veenae mann meethaadurom | We needlessly roam about this earth |
| Female | |
| Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae | We wither in hunger in this wretched world |
| Velai kedaikkallae aanaal | We do not get jobs, but |
| Pengalai kandaal | When we see women |
| Joraa vaayaadurom | We talk boastfully and flirt aloud |
| Veenae mann meethaadurom | We needlessly roam about this earth |
| Female | |
| Padiththaalae pothumaa moolai venumae | Is being educated alone enough? One needs practical brains |
| Kaasu saerkkavae | To earn and save money |
| Padiththaalae pothumaa moolai venumae | Is being educated alone enough? One needs practical brains |
| Kaasu saerkkavae yaeno | To earn and save money, why is it that |
| Unmai sonnaal neeyae vaalaatturaai | When the truth is spoken, you wag your tail in anger |
| Veenae en mel paayuraai | And needlessly pounce upon me? |
| Female | |
| Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae | We wither in hunger in this wretched world |
| Velai kedaikkallae aanaal | We do not get jobs, but |
| Pengalai kandaal | When we see women |
| Joraa vaayaadurom | We talk boastfully and flirt aloud |
| Veenae mann meethaadurom | We needlessly roam about this earth |
| Female | |
| MA-yum BA-yum padiththu vittu | Even after studying MA and BA degrees |
| Eththanaiyo per hotel sarvaraanaar | So many people became servers in hotels |
| Antha oru velaiyum naam kandomillai | Even that single job we haven't managed to get |
| Aanaalum pushcott-til kuraichchalillai | Yet there is no reduction in our vanity and swagger |
| Female | |
| Sugamaaga vaazhavae aasai kuraiyallae | Our desire to live comfortably has not diminished |
| Moolai sariyillae aanaal | Our brain isn't working properly, but |
| Pengalai kadaal | When we see women |
| Joraa vaayaadurom | We talk boastfully and flirt aloud |
| Veenae mann meethaadurom | We needlessly roam about this earth |
| Female | |
| Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae | We wither in hunger in this wretched world |
| Velai kedaikkallae aanaal | We do not get jobs, but |
| Pengalai kandaal | When we see women |
| Joraa vaayaadurom | We talk boastfully and flirt aloud |
| Veenae mann meethaadurom | We needlessly roam about this earth |
மேல் நாட்டு இளைஞர்
விமானம் கண்டார்
மோட்டார் கண்டார்
ரயிலைக் கண்டார்
Youths of Western nations
Invented airplanes
Invented motor cars
Invented trains
இங்கிருக்கும் நாமெல்லாம்
இட்லியும் சட்னியும்
ஸ்பெஷல் தோசையும் தவிர
வேறென்ன கண்டோம்
இன்று ஆறவுன்சு ரேஷன் வந்து அதற்கும்
திண்டாடுகிறோம் திண்டாடுகிறோம்......
All of us living here
Except for Idli and Chutney
And Special Dosa
What else have we invented or achieved?
Today, even with a six-ounce food ration system
We are struggling, we are struggling...
பசியாலே வாடுறோம் பாழும் உலகிலே
வேலை கெடைக்கல்லே ஆனால்
பெண்களைக் கண்டால்
ஜோரா வாயாடுறோம்
வீணே மண் மீதாடுறோம்
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
We do not get jobs, but
When we see women
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
We needlessly roam about this earth
பசியாலே வாடுறோம் பாழும் உலகிலே
வேலை கெடைக்கல்லே ஆனால்
பெண்ணைக் கண்டால்
ஜோரா வாயாடுறோம்
வீணே மண் மீதாடுறோம்
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
We do not get jobs, but
When we see women
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
We needlessly roam about this earth
படித்தாலே போதுமா மூளை வேணுமே
காசு சேர்க்கவே
படித்தாலே போதுமா மூளை வேணுமே
காசு சேர்க்கவே ஏனோ
உண்மை சொன்னால் நீயே வாலாட்டுறாய்
வீணே என் மேல் பாயுறாய்.....
Is being educated alone enough? One needs practical brains
To earn and save money
Is being educated alone enough? One needs practical brains
To earn and save money, why is it that
When the truth is spoken, you wag your tail in anger
And needlessly pounce upon me?
பசியாலே வாடுறோம் பாழும் உலகிலே
வேலை கெடைக்கல்லே ஆனால்
பெண்ணைக் கண்டால்
ஜோரா வாயாடுறோம்
வீணே மண் மீதாடுறோம்
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
We do not get jobs, but
When we see women
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
We needlessly roam about this earth
எம் ஏயும் பி ஏயும் படித்து விட்டு
எத்தனையோ பேர் ஹோட்டல் சர்வரானார்
அந்த ஒரு வேலையும் நாம் காண்டோமில்லை
ஆனாலும் புஷ்கோட்டில் குறைச்சலில்லை
Even after studying MA and BA degrees
So many people became servers in hotels
Even that single job we haven't managed to get
Yet there is no reduction in our vanity and swagger
சுகமாக வாழவே ஆசை குறையல்லே
மூளை சரியில்லே ஆனால்
பெண்களைக் கண்டால்
ஜோரா வாயாடுறோம்
வீணே மண் மீதாடுறோம்......
Our desire to live comfortably has not diminished
Our brain isn't working properly, but
When we see women
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
We needlessly roam about this earth
பசியாலே வாடுறோம் பாழும் உலகிலே
வேலை கெடைக்கல்லே ஆனால்
பெண்ணைக் கண்டால்
ஜோரா வாயாடுறோம்
வீணே மண் மீதாடுறோம்
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
We do not get jobs, but
When we see women
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
We needlessly roam about this earth
Mel naattu ilaingar
Youths of Western nations
Vimaanam kandaar
Invented airplanes
Mottar kandaar
Invented motor cars
Rayilai kandaar
Invented trains
Ingirukum naamellaam
All of us living here
Idlyum chutniyum
Except for Idli and Chutney
Special dosaiyum thavira
And Special Dosa
Verenna kandom
What else have we invented or achieved?
Indru aaravunsu ration vanthu adharkkum
Today, even with a six-ounce food ration system
Thindaadugirom thindaadugirom…
We are struggling, we are struggling...
Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
Velai kedaikkallae aanaal
We do not get jobs, but
Pengalai kandaal
When we see women
Joraa vaayaadurom
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
Veenae mann meethaadurom
We needlessly roam about this earth
Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
Velai kedaikkallae aanaal
We do not get jobs, but
Pengalai kandaal
When we see women
Joraa vaayaadurom
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
Veenae mann meethaadurom
We needlessly roam about this earth
Padiththaalae pothumaa moolai venumae
Is being educated alone enough? One needs practical brains
Kaasu saerkkavae
To earn and save money
Padiththaalae pothumaa moolai venumae
Is being educated alone enough? One needs practical brains
Kaasu saerkkavae yaeno
To earn and save money, why is it that
Unmai sonnaal neeyae vaalaatturaai
When the truth is spoken, you wag your tail in anger
Veenae en mel paayuraai
And needlessly pounce upon me?
Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
Velai kedaikkallae aanaal
We do not get jobs, but
Pengalai kandaal
When we see women
Joraa vaayaadurom
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
Veenae mann meethaadurom
We needlessly roam about this earth
MA-yum BA-yum padiththu vittu
Even after studying MA and BA degrees
Eththanaiyo per hotel sarvaraanaar
So many people became servers in hotels
Antha oru velaiyum naam kandomillai
Even that single job we haven't managed to get
Aanaalum pushcott-til kuraichchalillai
Yet there is no reduction in our vanity and swagger
Sugamaaga vaazhavae aasai kuraiyallae
Our desire to live comfortably has not diminished
Moolai sariyillae aanaal
Our brain isn't working properly, but
Pengalai kadaal
When we see women
Joraa vaayaadurom
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
Veenae mann meethaadurom
We needlessly roam about this earth
Pasiyaalae vaadurom paazhum ulagilae
We wither in hunger in this wretched world
Velai kedaikkallae aanaal
We do not get jobs, but
Pengalai kandaal
When we see women
Joraa vaayaadurom
We talk boastfully and flirt aloud
Veenae mann meethaadurom
We needlessly roam about this earth
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical track from the 1951 movie Devaki humorously critiques the socio-economic realities of post-independence India. Kannadasan contrasts Western technological achievements like airplanes, trains, and automobiles with the local populace's preoccupation with simple food items and the reality of surviving under severe post-war grain rationing. The song sharply mocks educated yet unemployed young men who hold high university degrees like MA and BA, highlighting how many are forced into menial jobs or remain idle while retaining grand vanity, swagger, and a penchant for flirting with women rather than making practical use of their intelligence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Satire / Irony
“Mel naattu ilaingar... Idlyum chutniyum...”
Sharp social commentary contrasting Western technological progress (airplanes, cars) with local struggles over basic food items and posturing.
Iyaibu (Rhyme)
“Vimaanam kandaar / Mottar kandaar / Rayilai kandaar”
End-rhyme created by repeating 'kandaar' at the end of consecutive lines.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Padiththaalae pothumaa moolai venumae / Kaasu saerkkavae”
Rhyming of the second letter 'di' across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Devaki (1951) starred V. N. Janaki and M. G. Ramachandran. The lyric line 'aaravunsu ration' (six-ounce ration) directly references the severe food grain shortages and strict rationing system enforced in the Madras Presidency during the early 1950s.
Keep listening
More from Devaki (1951)
Devaki (1951)
Devaki (1951)
Devaki (1951)
Devaki (1951)
Devaki (1951)
Devaki (1951)